A rusting Ferris wheel, a broken-down merry-go-round, and an eerie myth surrounding its demise: Inside Japan's haunting, abandoned theme park

• Kejonuma Leisure Land in Tohoku, Japan, attracted 200,000 visitors per year in its heyday
• Now, the abandoned site, which is believed to be cursed, has become a tourist attraction in its own right
• Photographer Florian Seidel visited the creepy location to photograph the park's ongoing dereliction

By Katie Amey for MailOnline

Published: 06:01 EST, 20 April 2015 | Updated: 07:23 EST, 20 April 2015

From a rusting Ferris wheel to a train rendered barely visible due to overgrown weeds, this Japanese theme park hasn't heard the happy screams of visiting children in a very long time.

In its heyday, Kejonuma Leisure Land, in Tohoku, Japan, attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors.

With an amusement park, campsite and driving range, the once-bustling family-friendly attraction closed its doors officially in 2000 following a drop in visitors, attributed to Japan's low birth rate and economic collapse. 

A rusting Ferris wheel perfectly captures the eerie remains of the abandoned Japanese theme park, Kejonuma Leisure Land

Today, the deserted merry-go-round and other relics of a bygone era are tourist attractions in their own right. 

Urban explorer Florian Seidel, 38, visited the creepy location, which is reported to be jinxed by an ancient curse, to document the extent of the site's ongoing dereliction.

Looking at his images, it's hard to believe that the park, which opened in 1979, once attracted 200,000 visitors annually from around the country.

Kansai-based photographer, Seidel, said of his project: 'Exploring Kejonuma Leisure Land was an amazing experience, it turned out to be one of the most underrated abandoned places I have ever visited.'

Florian Seidel, a Kensai-based photographer, visited the site in 2014 to capture the park's ongoing dereliction 

Other abandoned amusement parks have been 'photographed to death,' says Seidel, who felt as though there was plenty to see

In its heyday, the theme park in Tohoku, Japan, attracted approximately 200,000 visitors per year from around the country

The resort, which included an amusement park, campsite and driving range officially closed its doors in 2000 due to a drop in visitors

While most photographers who visit the site focus on the looming Ferris wheel, Seidel quickly realised that there was far more to see.

'Everything there had the right amount of natural decay with no signs of vandalism' he explained.

'It looked like time just forgot about it, despite the fact that it is located right next to a public road.

'Other locations, especially abandoned amusement parks, have been photographed to death, but at Kejonuma Leisure Land, I had the feeling that I was still exploring the place, constantly finding new things to take pictures of.'

Today, the broken down remains of the park are tourist attractions in their own right, with many of urban photographers keen to take snaps

Most photographers who visit, focus on the looming Ferris wheel, but Seidel quickly realised that there was far more to see

Seidel refers to Kejonuma Leisure Land as 'one of the most underrated abandoned places' that he has ever visited

Several pair of shoes have been left behind inside the park, as well as plates, notepads and boxes

According to The Japan Times, the theme park was built next to the site of the 'pond of the ghost woman', an ancient myth which is claimed could have been factor in its untimely closure.

The subject of the folklore is said to be a beautiful damsel, who supposedly lived near a pond in the area well-known for its abundance of snakes.

One day the woman gave birth to a baby in the form of a snake, which slithered away into the pond, where its cries could be heard every night.

Despite the fact that the theme park is located next to a very public road, there has been very little vandalism on the property

According to Japanese folklore, the park was built next to the site of the 'pond of the ghost woman' and is said to be jinxed

Some even attribute the myth as a factor as to the park's untimely demise, though others believe the closure was due to economic issues

According to the story, a beautiful damsel is said to have given birth to a baby in the form of a snake, which slithered away into the pond

According to legend, the young mum was driven mad by her serpent baby's incessant moans, eventually committing suicide in the pond

Allegedly, she cursed the area upon her death - an intriguing story that only adds to the 'eerie mystique' of this fascinating site

Driven mad by her serpent baby's incessant moans, the young mum committed suicide by jumping in the pond, cursing the site upon her death.

Seidel said: 'A lot of Japanese people, especially women, are quite superstitious, so if that urban legend would have had any impact, I don't think the park would have been in business for 21 years; it would have been bankrupt within months.

'Although it's an intriguing tale and only adds to the eerie mystique of this fascinating site.'

Comments (10)

Share what you think

• Newest
• Oldest
• Best rated
• Worst rated

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

 View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now